BARRACUDA BLANKED 6-0 IN PRESEASON OPENER

Sep 28, 2017

BAKERSFIELD, CA – 2017 Calder Cup Champion and Condors offseason addition Eddie Pasquale was perfect between the pipes, and the Bakersfield (1-0-0-0) offense was red-hot all night, downing the San Jose Barracuda, 6-0, at Rabobank Arena on Thursday night in the first exhibition contest of 2017 for either team.

San Jose went on four power plays in the first period, but Bakersfield drew first blood at 13:51. Ben Betker’s left-point shot was stopped by the left pad of Antoine Bibeau, but an uncovered Braden Christoffer (1) collected the rebound and cashed in on a backhand to make it 1-0. Bakersfield added to its lead at 14:38 as Keegan Lowe (1) beat a screened Bibeau through the five-hole along the right half-wall, and then the Condors completed the three-goal first when Josh Currie (1) ripped a shot from close range over the blocker of San Jose’s netminder after receiving a below the goal-line feed from Zach O’Brien. San Jose was outshot in the first 20 minutes 14-to-11.

Bakersfield continued its offensive onslaught in the second period, adding two more goals to go up 5-0. First, Dana Tyrell (1) tipped an Evan Polei shot at 4:26 and then Lane Bauer (1) ended Bibeau’s night and gave Bakersfield a 5-0 lead at 6:06. Down 5-0, San Jose looked to push back physically as Bryan Moore dropped the mitts with 6-foot-5 defenseman Ryan Mantha at 6:47, and then San Jose’s Josh Thrower threw punches with Istvan Sofron at 13:43. Bibeau lasted just 33 minutes and 43 seconds after allowing five goals on 22 shots. Stephon Williams worked the final six minutes and 17 seconds of the frame.

In the third, Williams was forced to make a handful of stellar saves, but Kyle Platzer (1) made it 6-0 with a backhand-to-forehand move on a breakaway down the right wing at 11-07.

Pasquale (1-0) earned the shutout win by making 16 saves, while Bibeau suffered the loss (0-1). Williams allowed one goal on 14 shots.

The Barracuda conclude exhibition play on Saturday, Sept. 30 at SAP Center against the Stockton Heat at 1:30 p.m. Tickets are free but must be claimed prior to arrival. Claim your tickets by going to SJBarracuda.com/free. The Barracuda open the 2017-18 regular season on the road at Stockton on Oct. 7 (6 p.m.), before welcoming the defending Calder Cup Champion Grand Rapids Griffins to SAP Center for the home opener on Oct.13, which will feature $1 hot dogs, and $2 beers, along with a banner-raising ceremony prior to puck drop.

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